Suggestions Aaron Mooy has made a record transfer to the English Premier League are premature with Huddersfield Town yet to offer the Australian international a contract, let alone complete a club-record transfer from Manchester City.
The player's agent Paddy Dominguez confirmed they are in talks with Huddersfield but suggested they are still some way off agreeing to terms with the newly-promoted club. Huddersfield are understood to be one of several clubs in talks with Mooy, including Southampton, Newcastle, Brighton, Bournemouth while Crystal Palace are reportedly interested.
Huddersfield have a strong chance of making Mooy's deal permanent but have not reached an agreement with the player, let alone finalised the deal.
"As I speak to you right now, I guarantee you that Aaron Mooy has not signed a contract with any club. I'm not saying he won't sign a deal with Huddersfield, I'm not saying he will ,but that the fact of the matter at this moment in time, Aaron doesn't have a contract signed anywhere," Dominguez said.
The central midfielder has a strong relationship with the Huddersfield and their coach David Wagner and his priority is to be playing first team football next season in the English Premier League.
"I would hope that at some stage next week, possibly, that he will have made a decision and he will sign a contract with somebody but he's not under a finite time pressure to make a decision," Dominguez said.
What appears certain is that Mooy will be playing his football in the English Premier League next season but not at the City of Manchester Stadium. While Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola expressed his desire to retain Mooy, he would not guarantee the Australian international any more than a squad player status.
Ahead of a likely World Cup year, Mooy is not prepared to settle for limited game time even at a club as large as Manchester City and is set to seal a permanent move to an EPL rival for a price tag of $17 million, $5.75 million more than they paid to purchase Mooy's A-League club, Melbourne City.
Mooy could still shatter that record should Manchester City opt to bring him back in several years. While willing to part with Mooy, Manchester City will not completely sever ties with the 26-year-old and will only sell him in a deal that includes a buy-back option. Fairfax Media understands any sale of the midfielder will include an option for Manchester City to buy him back for a transfer fee of up to $45 million.
Meanwhile, the chances of James Troisi playing in the English Premier League have been dealt a blow after the Australian international's talks with Brighton & Hove Albion appear to have stalled.
The Australian international attacking midfielder was in negotiations to join the newly-promoted club after parting way with A-League runners-up Melbourne Victory but that may not occur after failing to reach an agreement over financial terms. Fairfax Media understands Brighton and Troisi are at odds over wages and yet to reach an agreement that threatens to scrap his move to the EPL.
The Seagulls are also close to completing the signing of Australian international goalkeeper Mat Ryan from Spanish club, Valencia.
Elsewhere, Melbourne City's controversial loan of Anthony Caceres will continue for another season after the A-League club extended his deal from their parent club, Manchester City. The English Premier League giants purchased Caceres for $300,000 from Central Coast Mariners in January, 2016 before immediately loaning him to Melbourne, where he has remained since.
Caceres' move to Melbourne City came under scrutiny as A-League clubs are not permitted to pay transfer fees between one another. Manchester City own his registration and continue to loan him to their sister club. Melbourne City also announced the signing of veteran goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic who ended his 10-year tenure with Adelaide United to return to his home city.
